Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot-Chapter 1123 - 662: An Informal Meeting Between In-Laws, Not a Single Grandson Is Worry-Free (Part 2)
"Who has ever seen Old Mr. Qi so humble before? He’s really giving face."
"The atmosphere is great, I think the Qi Family doesn’t care about the online photos at all. If they really looked down on her, they wouldn’t bother."
"So, about young Mr. Qi and Miss Ruan, it’s pretty much a done deal."
...
Ruan Daqiang kept a straight face for another reason: many people had seen Ruan Mengxi’s old photos, and there was a lot of gossip about her having plastic surgery and liposuction, and that Qi Zeyan didn’t want her.
The way the Qi Family handled things was essentially elevating Ruan Mengxi’s status.
Whether or not they become in-laws in the end, the Qi Family doing this ensures that no one would easily belittle Ruan Mengxi.
So Ruan Daqiang wasn’t so tactless; even if he didn’t like Qi Zeyan, there was no reason to show his elders a sour face. The atmosphere was quite pleasant.
**
Jiang Jinsang watched from nearby for a while, assured that nothing would go wrong, and only then did he pull Jiang Chengsi to the entrance to greet guests again.
"I think Zeyan’s thing, barring any surprises, will be settled before the year-end." Jiang Jinsang smiled as he looked at Jiang Chengsi.
"Why are you smiling at me?"
"When the parents on both sides are meeting, why are you frowning? Always staring at them, people have started gossiping."
"What do you mean?"
"They’re saying you’re jealous."
"..." Even now, there are still people shipping strange couples.
Jiang Chengsi was purely provoked by Jiang Jinsang. If Qi Zeyan got married, as a brother, he would be genuinely happy for him.
To prove that he had nothing to do with Qi Zeyan, when Qi Zeyan got engaged, Jiang Chengsi lavishly spent money on a grand gift to show everyone just how happy he was.
The gift was more expensive than anyone else’s, leading people to say he was deliberately causing a scene to embarrass Ruan Mengxi.
Whatever he did was wrong, which frustrated him so much that he got drunk at Qi Zeyan’s engagement, leading to rumors that he was heartbroken and drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Jiang Chengsi was furious, and Jiang Jinsang gave him a piece of advice:
"The best way to stop these rumors is to find a girlfriend."
"Get lost, if I date someone, it would be because I genuinely like her, not to prove my innocence or stop rumors."
But the truth was, when he did start dating, those rumors really disappeared.
...
Once all the guests were seated, the full moon banquet was about to start.
Ruan Mengxi wanted to go to the banquet hall earlier because she was worried her father couldn’t control his emotions and would get into a conflict with the Qi Family, but several classmates kept her in conversation.
In the end, it was Shen Shuci who asked to go to the front hall and wanted her company, which freed her from the predicament.
"Your classmates are really enthusiastic." Shen Shuci said with a smile.
"We were just okay when we were in school, not really enthusiastic." They’re all adults now, and most can see through the little calculations in people’s minds.
Just now someone even asked if staying at the club was profitable, and, since it hadn’t officially opened yet, heard there’s recruiting to be done, and asked about hiring requirements.
"I heard you talking about work? They want you to make introductions?"
Ruan Mengxi said helplessly, "Fourth Master is so picky, even if I wanted to insert someone, I couldn’t."
"How’s Fourth Master picky?"
"If you worked under him, you’d know. No doubt, he’s truly a blood brother to Third Young Master." Once Ruan Mengxi started talking about someone’s pickiness, she couldn’t stop, "The first time I reported to him, he made me walk to the club, said his car doesn’t give rides..."
Shen Shuci just listened quietly.
Ruan Mengxi was fully immersed in ranting about her boss, but once they reached the banquet hall and she saw the Qi Family, she instantly transformed.
From lively Ruan to demure Ruan.
Caught off guard, she turned into a lady, even her speech became gentler, and she seemed unable to take normal strides.
Shen Shuci raised an eyebrow slightly, unable to hold back a smile.
"Xixi." Ruan’s mother had already sat down, and seeing her daughter come over, she hurriedly waved her over.
Qi Zeyan had been at the hotel for a long time and was seeing Ruan Mengxi for the first time. The warm indoor heating allowed her to wear just a pure white sweater and black pants, looking fresh and gentle.
In the eyes of a lover, everything is beautiful, and no matter how he looked, Qi Zeyan found her lovely.
As Ruan Mengxi appeared, not only the Qi Family but about sixty percent of the people around were watching her, among whom the gaze of the Qi Family members was the most eager.
Especially Qi Zeyan’s mother, who smiled warmly, yet Ruan could feel the scrutiny in those eyes.
She suddenly became nervous.
"Xixi, let me introduce you, you’ve seen Grandpa before, this is my mom and dad." Qi Zeyan quickly stood up, overly eager.
It was the first time Qi’s parents saw their son acting like this, and they found it amusing.
"Grandpa Qi, Uncle, Aunt." Ruan Mengxi smoothly greeted them.
"Good." Old Master Qi said with a smile, "Go ahead and sit down."
Though it was a meeting of families, in such a setting, it was just an introduction, without room for deep exchanges; however, Ruan Mengxi felt that the Qi Family’s eyes never really left her.
Occasionally meeting their eyes, all she could do was give a polite smile, her nervousness evident in the stiffness.
"I just spoke to Xiaoqi’s mother a bit, they’re a good family." Ruan’s mother leaned in to speak quietly to Ruan Mengxi amidst the buzzing crowd, ensuring the Qi Family couldn’t overhear, "They’re very polite and invited us to their home for dinner sometime."
"Did you agree?"
"I wanted to, but your father disagreed and politely declined. The Qi Family will surely invite us again."
...
Shortly after, the full moon banquet began, with Grandpa Tang and Jiang Zhenhuan giving speeches. Unlike a wedding, the ceremonies were less complicated; Jiang Jinsang and Tang Wan just held their child and greeted everyone before they started the meal.
"Why hasn’t Shiyi arrived yet?" The old lady frowned, just as the banquet started, she was about to ask Jiang Chengsi to call him when she spotted him already coming in.
With a girl following behind.
She recognized the group leader Lin from the lab.
Jiang Shiyi settled her down before going over to greet the old lady.
"Why are you so late?"
"There were some things at the lab, and then we got caught in rush hour traffic on our way here. I’ll take my seat first."
The old lady watched him sit in his position, her mind a little dizzy.
After a long time, she realized...
Isn’t Third Young Master and that group leader Lin from the same lab?
She had never meddled in Jiang Shiyi’s affairs, not even Jiang Jinsang’s so-called allocation plan had caught her interest, as her gaze swept over.
The young lady had just taken her seat, still wearing a down jacket while outside, removing her coat due to the warmth inside, and Jiang Shiyi casually took her coat and bag...
Such behavior seems to explain everything.
The old lady was stunned; she was a shrewd person, and knowing her grandson well, Jiang Shiyi was a bit of a germaphobe and wouldn’t casually touch someone else’s belongings, could it be...
She thought of the time she wanted to matchmake her with Jiang Chengsi, remembered Jiang Shiyi giving up a high-paying job and suddenly resigning, her mind buzzed incessantly.
Jiang Shiyi, you sly boy—
Without mentioning a thing, hiding it so deep.
She recalled how she attempted to set up this group leader Lin with Jiang Chengsi, and suddenly, she felt immensely embarrassed. Amidst all that, he still kept it hidden?
Thinking back to when Jiang Yanting returned with a child; Jiang Jinsang calling off an engagement but lingering around; Jiang Shiyi silently chased after a wife...
And not forgetting the one who still didn’t get the hint, with a lovely girl right in front of him yet unaware—carefree Jiang Xiaosi!
The old lady’s head was about to explode. Whatever kind of grandchildren has she raised, there’s not a single one that doesn’t cause trouble.
